PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIVITY OF AMARANTHUS SPINOSUS WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO ITS ANTIPYRETIC ACTIVITY

About Authors:
SAMRAT BOSE^*, SUCHARITA ROY
Department of Pharmacology
Bengal School of Technology,
Chuchura, West Bengal.
*samratbose09@gmail.com

ABSTRACT:
Amaranthus spinosus, commonly known as the spiny amaranth, prickly amaranth or thorny amaranth, belonging to family Amaranthaceae. Tradionally A.spinosus used as diuretic, anti-diabetic, antipyretic, anti-snake venom, anti-leprotic and anti-gonorrheal, anti helmintic, anti androgenic etc^[1]. The aim of present study was to investigate the antipyretic activity of MeOH-Water extract of Amaranthus spinosus in rats. MeOH-Water extract was administered at a dose of 100mg/kg, 400mg/kg and 600mg/kg through ip.

Reference Id: PHARMATUTOR-ART-1402

INTRODUCTION:
Various local names of Amaranthus spinosus are Katanote (A.spinosus) [Bengal]  Pakai ( Amaranthus spp.), pakai kuku (A. spinosus) [Hawai'i]; zhi xian, tz'u hsien-ts'ai, [China]; tanduliyah [India] ban lunde [Nepal] etc. In Madagascar Amaranthus spinosus considered as laxative, in Malaysia A.spinosus used in acute bronchitis as well as expectorant .Some tribes of India use it in induce abortion^[1]. In Africa it is used in eruptic fever^[2]. On  the other hand  in traditional medicine the plant is extensively used for various ailments and lead us to perform in vivo experiment.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

Collection and authentication of  Amaranthus spinosus .
The  whole plant of Amaranthus spinosus was collected from Bolpur, Dist: Birbhum, West Bengal and authenticated (authentication No: CNH/34/2011/ TechII/471) by Central National Herbarium ,Botanical Garden,Howrah-711103.

Extraction procedure of Amaranthus spinosus whole plant(except root).
Freshly collected whole plant (except root)  were shade dried and coarsely powdered then screened through mesh No: 40.The powder was initially defatted with  petroleum ether for 7 days. The marc was further macerated with methanol water at the ratio of 60-40 for 5 days. Then methanol is removed through rotary evaporator and rest of the portion is lyophilized. Dried material is kept in a vacuum desiccator and subjected to pharmacological study.

Phytochemical Screening.
The freshly collected extract fraction of Amaranthus spinosus were tested for the             presence of Phytochemical constituents. These were identified by characteristic colour changes using standard procedure^[3] (Table.1).

Experimental Animal.
Male Wistar Rat (body weight 150-180gm) used for the present study, were housed in our animal house .Use of  animal for this investigation was approved by the Institutional Animal Ethics Committee (IAEC).  Animals were kept under a 12:12 hr L:d cycle and allowed to take commercial pellet feed and water ad lib . Use of animal for this investigation was approved by the Institutional Animal Ethics Committee (IAEC).

Acute Toxicity Study
.Acute toxicity studies for MeOH-Water extract of Amaranthus spinosus was carried out in male Wistar Rat at different doses (500–1500 mg/kg, ip), showed no gross evidence of any abnormalities in the rats up to the end of 72hr of the observation period. This indicates the safety of extract. Acute toxicity study was done as per OECD, 2006 Guidelines. Hence we selected 100mg/kg,400mg/kg and 600mg/kg as test dose.^[4][5].  

Evaluation of antipyretic activity:
The subcutaneous injection of Brewer’s yeast suspension is known to produce fever in rats And  decrease in temperature can be achieved by administration of compounds with antipyretic activity^[6].

A 15% suspension of Brewer’s yeast in 0.9% saline was prepared. Each Group contains 6 male Wistar rats with a body weight of 150-180 gm . By insertion of aclinical thermometer (digital) to a depth of 2 cm into the rectum the initial rectal temperatures were recorded. 10 ml/kg of 15% Brewer’s yeast suspension was injected  subcutaneously at the back of the rat, and massaged immediately after injection  in order to spread the suspension beneath the skin. The room temperature was kept at 22–24 °C. Immediately after yeast administration, food was withdrawn. 18 h post challenge, the rise in rectal temperature was recorded. The measurement was repeated after 30 min. The animals received the test extract (at the dose of 600mg/kg,400mg/kg,100mg/kg through i.p rout ) and  Paracetamol (100 mg/kg by i.p  administration). Rectal temperatures were recorded again 30, 60, 120min and post dosing and compared with control group.(Table 2)

Percentage inhibition.
(1- Body temperature of Treated / Body temperature of Control) X 100. (Table 3)

Statistical Analysis.
The results were expressed as a mean ± S.E. The differences were compared by Student’s t Test (Difference Between the Means of the Two Sample).

NOW YOU CAN ALSO PUBLISH YOUR ARTICLE ONLINE.

SUBMIT YOUR ARTICLE/PROJECT AT articles@pharmatutor.org

Subscribe to PharmaTutor Alerts by Email

FIND OUT MORE ARTICLES AT OUR DATABASE

RESULTS.

Table-1 Phytochemical screening

+ Present ; - Absent

Table 2. Antipyretic property of  Methanol-Water extract of Amaranthus spinosus in 15% Brewer’s Yeast induced pyrexia in rat.

(n=6) ^*1P<0.001, ^*2P<0.01, ^*3P<0.02, ^*4P<0.5.

Table 3. The percentage inhibition of pyretic response in at various doses (600mg/kg,400mg/kg and 100mg/kg) of test drug treated group.

Test group 1*= 750 mg/kg, Test group 2*=400 mg/kg, Test group 3*=200 mg/kg

CONCLUSION:
MeOH-Water extract of whole plant (except root) of Amaranthus spinosus  have showed significant dose dependent antipyretic activity.

REFERENCE:
1. Malligeswari Krishnamurthi Senthil kumar et al. / Journal of Pharmacy Research 2010,3(12),3088-3089Research Article ISSN: 0974-6943.
2. Z.C.Maiyo, R.M.Ngure, J.C.Matasyoh and R.Chepkorir.African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 9(21), pp. 3178-3182, 24 May ,2010.
3. Pharmacognosy, CK.kokate, A.P.Purohit, S.B.Gokhale, 24th edition, 6. Analytical  Pharmacognosy
4. Chandra Kalyan Reddy. Y*, Sandya. L, Sandeep. D, Ruth Salomi. K, Nagarjuna. S, “ Evaluation of Diuretic Activity of aqueous extract of Lawsonia inermis leaves in rats.”
5. P. Sravanthi*1, K. Mahesh Kumar, D.Thaseena Begum, S. Nelson Kumar, K. Ravindrareddy, Rupesh. S. Khanhare. “Antiulcer  activity of Ethanolic extract of Lawsonia inermis against cold stress induced ulceration in wiser rats.”
6. Drug discovery and evaluation ,by H.G.Vogel, Second edition, Springer publication, page no 772-73.

NOW YOU CAN ALSO PUBLISH YOUR ARTICLE ONLINE.

SUBMIT YOUR ARTICLE/PROJECT AT articles@pharmatutor.org

Subscribe to PharmaTutor Alerts by Email

FIND OUT MORE ARTICLES AT OUR DATABASE